District official offers plan to reinstate sports

FONDA – The Fonda-Fultonville Central School District’s interim superintendent is proposing to reinstate springs sports programs but close the swimming pool, eliminate two jobs and make other changes that would save $500,000.

Interim Superintendent Ray Colucciello said in a news release he will make the recommendations at a meeting today at 6:30 p.m. at the school.

He said he wants to close the pool for the remainder of the year, make changes to retirees’ health insurance and special education placement, and refinance long-term debt, the news release said.

Colucciello is recommending the elimination of the business education teacher position and the school psychologist position.

He said the reinstatement of spring sports will be possible “since the team coaches and teachers’ bargaining unit [have] agreed to volunteer their services for this spring, affecting all spring sports athletes,” the news release said.

The news release said Robert Brown, owner of Brown Transportation, is donating his services for transportation to athletic games and competitions.

The donations from Brown, the coaches and teachers would save $60,000, and the other changes would save $440,000, the news release said.

“We have been able to bring financial stability to the district for the remainder of this school year,” Colucciello said in the release. “Now we move to the next challenge of developing a 2013-14 budget. We will be working on providing our students with a program they need and deserve, and trust the community will support.”